Texas Tech Tops Kansas State In 1st Game of Big 12 Tournament

No. 1 seed Texas Tech had to work hard for it but overcame an early four-run deficit to open the Big 12 Championship with an 8-5 victory over Kansas State.

The Red Raiders had lost their previous seven games to start the tournament. The last time Tech won an opening round game in the Big 12 Tournament was in 2005.

After an early injury to Tanner Gardner Texas Tech rallied scoring three runs in the fifth to tie the game and then took its first lead with two more runs in the sixth.

Tech’s comeback was boosted by five shutout innings of relief by the Red Raider bullpen as K-State reached base just twice against the likes of Parker Mushinski, Robert Dugger, Dalton Brown and Hayden Howard.

The Red Raiders advance to face West Virginia at 4 p.m. Thursday evening. The Mountaineers shut out Oklahoma, 6-0, to open the tournament earlier in the day.

Davis Martin will get the ball for the Red Raiders on Thursday in his second start against West Virginia in less than a week. He earned a no-decision last Friday in Tech’s 2-1 victory.

The biggest story line to follow continuing on will be the health of All-Big 12 1st team outfielder Tanner Gardner who seemed to pull up while running home to score a run for the Red Raiders in the win against Kansas State.

Coach Tadlock has similar injury reports to Kliff Kingsbury so we won't know for sure but I wouldn't expect him back for the tournament. The good news is I'm not an athletic trainer and have no clue what his injury is, or if he has one.